Canadian National Railway Labor Talks Reaching Critical Point

Canadian National Railway Labor Talks are Reaching a Critical Point. The CN and Teamsters are in an ongoing discussion over the current labor contract. The talks have reached a point where federal mediation services have been requested. The Teamsters will be conducting a strike vote within 3 days. If the vote passes the union cannot initiate stike action unless a 72 hours advance notice is provided. That would place the potential strike date on Tuesday may 30, 2017.

In previous years the CN was able to replace union conductor with non-union conductors during strike periods. Currently there are 3000 conductor positions that would need to be filled, however due to demographic shifts over the the last decade there are not enough non-union conductors available for these positions. The CN will expect a total shutdown if the strike is approved.